FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
Information About The Athelstone Small Business Loans
Let me know what you think of the Athelstone Small Business Loans
Athelstone unsecured loans offers amounts between $5,000 and $100,000 with terms between 3 and 24 months, cash flow-friendly repayments which can be made daily or weekly.
What is what makes the Unsecured Loan different from a traditional company loan?
The application to your Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes online or over the phone. You’ll get an answer within the same day and the funds could be in your account within 24 hours. Traditional business loans have an interest rate per annum plus other fees and charges. The company loan is a pre-paid loan which means you be aware in advance of the total amount due, which includes the interest, fees and charges. This is then broken down into either a daily or weekly repayment figure.
What could be the Small Business Loan be used for?
A Small Business Loan can be used for nearly any company reason, such as control of cash flow business remodels and marketing to purchase inventory or new equipment, as general working capital, and much more. The loan is not available to fund personal expenses.
About larger Athelstone Business Loans
What is the Larger Athelstone Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger size loan to aid in company growth opportunities. The loan ranges from $100,000 to $500,000 with a fixed-term with a maximum of 36 months. The repayments are made weekly or fortnightly to work with the flow of cash.
How’s the Origination Fee determined?
A Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee which is calculated at 2.5 percentage of the amount of the loan.
Am I eligible for the Larger Business Loan?
To be eligible for a loan in this amount the business needs to be operating for a minimum of 3 years and have an annual turnover of $700,000. It is necessary to be a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) over 18 years, own a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able demonstrate at the least 12 months of operating.
What can the funds be used for?
A larger business loan can be used for almost every business use, including business improvements, purchasing new equipment or inventory as well as for general working capital and much more. The loan cannot be used for personal reasons.
Is the Larger Business Loan one that is secured?
Asset security is needed for accessing funds over $150,000. It is usually as a result of an charge over assets, which could also include registering this in the PPSR or making a caveat.
A personal or director’s guarantee is a guarantee to pay back a loan that is generally based rather than specifying the security of a specific asset. The person who signs the ensure is personally liable in the event that the company creditor is unable to repay the debt.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is an online, central register run by the New Zealand Government. It lists security interests that are that are registered for personal property (including the assets or goods). The PPSR grants the priority of personal property granted according to the date the registration of a security interest.
Caveats are legal document lodged to provide notice of a legal claim to a property.
What is a pre-approval without Credit Check?
When you’re applying for a Larger Business Loan of $250K or more we may be able to provide an initial pre-approval that will help simplify the process. We may be able to get this done without a credit verification and within 6 hours of your initial application. This pre-approval is based on an initial assessment, which involves you answering some financial health checks. This is not an offer or guarantee of financing. Acceptance without condition is subject to a full credit assessment and any offer that you may receive may have different conditions.
Application process
Are I eligible for funding?
You may be eligible for a business loan if you
- are a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident)
- are 18 years or older, have a New Zealand business (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- you must demonstrate at minimum 6 months of business (for a unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or 3 years of continuous trading (for the Larger Business Loan $100K up to $500K)
How do I apply?
The process for applying is fast and easy. Simply complete the online form in few minutes and an experienced business credit specialist will call you to guide you through the process.
To apply for up to $100,000 you’ll require the right identification documents (valid Driver’s License) along with an active NZBN/IRD, and at least 6 months of bank statements.
If you’re looking for loans with larger sizes, you’ll need:
$100K to $250K: Details of application, including credit consent, 6-12 months of IRD statements, bank statements (if loan above $150K).
$250K-$500K: Application details including credit consent as well as 12 months of bank records, IRD statements, last 2 years finalised financial statements, and interim current financial year financials such as age-related payables and aged Receivables summaries.
What speed will I be able to get an answer?
For an unsecured loan ($5K up to $100,000) We can usually offer an answer within one hour – as long as you apply within quality business hours and let us utilise the bank verification system to instantly verify your bank details online. If you decide to upload copies of your bank statements we can offer a decision in just an business day.
If you are applying for a Larger Business Loan ($100K and up) we could be likely to offer you with pre-approval conditional to your application within about six hours. After you’ve signed your pre-approval, turnaround times are around 2-3 days for final approval, however this could be shorter based on the particular circumstances of each application. Some agreements have been approved in less than 24 hours.
The fastest way is to make sure you apply during standard business hours and let us use the advance bank verification to confirm your bank details online. If you upload duplicates of your banking statement, it takes a bit longer.
How fast will I get the cash?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K to $100K) We can usually provide an answer in just one hour – as long as you apply within normal business timings and allow us to utilise the advanced bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank’s information online. If you opt to submit copies of your bank statements, we are able to provide the decision in just one business day.
For Larger Business Loans ($100K or more) We may be in a position to offer you with conditional pre-approval within six hours. After you’ve signed the pre-approval form, it will take around 2-3 days for final approval. However, this can be faster depending on the particular circumstances of each application. Certain deals have been approved in just 24 hours.
The quickest method for you to apply is make sure you apply during standard business hours. Also, permit us to use the advanced bank verification system to verify your bank account information online. If you decide to upload copies of your bank statement, it will take a little longer.
What is the maximum amount I can borrow?
We provide loan amounts between $5,000 and $500,000. When you make an application for a certain amount we look at a variety of elements in order to assess your health of your company as well as the amount of repayments that your business can support. The total amount of the loan will be determined by the specifics the business.
When you apply for a particular amount, we look at a range of factors to assess your health for your business and the level of payments your company can support. The amount you receive from the loan will be determined by the particular circumstances the company.
Fees & repayments
How much do you charge for an business loan?
If you decide to make an application for our company loans, we’ll assess the risk assessment the business and offer you with a tailored offer that includes the amount of loan, the term and interest rates. This business loan is an upfront-priced loan therefore you will be aware in advance of the total amount you will have to pay, including charges or interest.
What is the basis for the rate I pay?
The interest rates on company loans rates depend on a variety of factors such as the amount that is borrowed, what company assets the money are used to purchase, the industry the company is in, how long the business has been operating, in the event that the company has sufficient cash flow to support the loan, and overall health or financial standing of the company.
What are the charges?
There are no hidden costs with our company loans, and you’ll know precisely how much you’ll be required to pay, and when, starting from the very first day. There’s not any compounding interest and the loan comes with no additional fees (as long as you are able to make your payments on time).
We do not charge an application fee. You are able to apply for a loan with no cost upfront or obligation to proceed.
The Origination Fee covers the expenses involved in establishing and managing the loan. This is only a fee if you choose to proceed with the loan. The Origination Fee for us is 2.5 percent of the amount of the loan.
Can I pay off the loan early?
You can decide to repay the total amount of your loan at any point in time.
If you do decide to take this route, please speak to our friendly company loan professionals. We will provide you with details for repayment as well as an early payout amount. The figure will be calculated as the total of the principal balance plus any accrued interest as of the time of the early payout and 1.5% of the principal balance and any outstanding fees.
How do repayments work?
In order to help you avoid missing due dates and also to be in line with your cash flow general, we offer repayments either daily or weekly. These are automatically deducted from your business account.
Security & privacy
Will my data be secure?
Security of your data, and being clear about the ways we gather, use, exchange and ensure the security of your information is of huge importance and is an essential part of our relationship with you.
Is it safe to link my bank account to the platform?
Yes. We make use of industry-standard encryption standards to protect your personal, sensitive and financial data and our funders are ISO 27001 certified for our dedication to customer security and privacy. We make use of an advanced bank verification system link to immediately verify your bank account details online. This allows us to provide quick responses.
About business loans
How do you define asset-based lending (a secured loan)?
The term "asset-based" refers to borrowing where an company owner uses the assets they have to make the funds for a loan. The asset could be an individual asset, such as the family home or an business asset such as a vehicle or piece of equipment.
The majority of lenders, not just the banks with the biggest size, prefer to secure loans against an asset. If you’re having trouble paying back the loan, the asset might be transferred to the lender. In essence, it is the process of securing new financing by using the value of what you already own.
Should I need security to get a company loan?
Up to $150K in loans it is not necessary to secure assets prior to the loan’s access however, we require a personal guarantee. require a personal guarantee. So long as you comply with your loan commitments (as stipulated in the loan contract) the security of assets will never be required. For loans of over $150K generally, there is personal guarantee and security is provided in the form of a charge over assets.